Voltage Domain Management Using Error Feedback in Data Paths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing approaches to managing voltage domains in digital logic circuits and memory systems over-constrain the data path by supplying the same high supply voltage as the control path, leading to excessive power consumption and potential damage to components, while underutilizing error correction mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
Implement voltage management circuitry to supply different voltage domains with varying supply voltages based on error characteristics, maintaining them within a permissible error range to balance power consumption and error rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the same high supply voltage is supplied to both control path and data path voltage domains, then the control path operates reliably with low error rates, but the data path consumes excessive power and components are subjected to unnecessary stress
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the voltage domain into separate control path voltage domain and data path voltage domain, allowing independent voltage management. The control path receives higher voltage for reliable operation, while the data path receives lower voltage to reduce power consumption, resolving the contradiction between reliability and energy usage.
Solution Approach 2:
Different voltage levels are applied to different parts of the system based on their specific requirements. The control path operates at higher voltage for stability, while the data path operates at lower voltage for energy efficiency. This localized quality adjustment allows each domain to operate optimally without compromising the other.
2Use of energy by moving object
If lower supply voltage is supplied to reduce power consumption, then energy usage decreases, but error rates increase beyond permissible limits
Solution Approach 1:
The system monitors error characteristics in the data path and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust the supply voltage. When error rates exceed permissible thresholds, the voltage is increased; when errors are within acceptable limits, the voltage is maintained at lower levels for energy efficiency. This closed-loop control resolves the contradiction by adapting voltage based on actual performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The supply voltage to the data path is made dynamic rather than static, allowing it to change based on operational conditions and error characteristics. This dynamic adjustment enables the system to operate at lower voltages for energy savings while temporarily increasing voltage when reliability requirements demand, thus resolving the contradiction between power consumption and error rates.
3Use of energy by moving object
If voltage management circuitry dynamically adjusts supply voltage based on error characteristics, then power consumption is optimized, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The voltage management circuitry automatically monitors error characteristics and adjusts supply voltage without external intervention. The system serves itself by using its own performance metrics to control its power consumption, eliminating the need for complex external control systems while achieving optimized energy usage.
Data Source
AI summary
A method includes supplying, via a voltage regulator, a supply voltage to a first voltage domain and a second voltage domain, detecting a change in an error characteristic of data associated with the second voltage domain, and altering the supply voltage to an altered supply voltage based on the change in the error characteristic.